#79 Chapter 19. Quarrel (3)

That apron over there... it was definitely the one I'd bought back in college but hardly ever wore, so I'd stashed it in the kitchen drawer. I had no idea how this kid, who barely knew where anything was in the kitchen, had even found it. And seeing her actually wearing it felt almost surreal.

Was she trying to put together some kind of uniform in her own way? It was way too big for her, though.

"......"

I stood frozen in the entryway, still in my shoes, too stunned to move as I just stared at Lee Sea. She was on her knees wiping the living room floor, but she must have sensed my gaze because she lifted her head slightly.

Our eyes met naturally... and not even a second later, she whipped her head away.

She kept wiping the already gleaming table, now slick with moisture, a couple more unnecessary times with her rag before murmuring in a tiny voice.

"You're back... oppa."

"............"

It went beyond absurd now—it was downright pitiful. She'd spied on me fighting with my girlfriend, confronted that girlfriend, and gotten caught. She had every reason to be fidgety... but really, I'd been the one deceiving her.

But Lee Sea must have taken my silence for anger. She stopped her pointless table-wiping, slowly stood up, and approached me cautiously.

"Not hungry...? There's leftover pizza..."

"......"

"It's not leftovers—I set some aside ahead of time... Or if you wanna shower first, I can heat it up nice and warm—"

"Not eating. I'm full."

"Ah..."

"And I'm not mad, oppa."

"...?"

Lee Sea blinked in surprise, staring at me. I couldn't see my own face, but it probably looked incredibly complicated right now. Embarrassment, pity, cuteness, gratitude that she'd rushed in furious on my behalf after getting slapped, and a swirl of other thoughts besides. None of it was aimed at her negatively. I stepped inside, asking casually like nothing was wrong.

"Did Yu-ri come by the house?"

"...For a group project."

"Saw her off after?"

"Yeah... Did things go okay?"

Lee Sea's voice held hesitation mixed with curiosity. Just as I'd discussed with Seo Yeon-hee, I gave her the answer she'd probably want to hear.

"Yeah, ended on a good note."

"No makeup...?"

"I'm busy these days, and she said it'd be the same even if we kept seeing each other. We shook hands and parted ways."

"Is that okay?"

"Hey, why are you so invested in my love life?"

"You always denied dating anyone."

"Ahem... Sorry about that, for real. Anyway, we broke up clean. No plans to see anyone for a while."

"Really?"

"Of course it's real—what, you think I'd lie? I'm going to shower now."

"No pizza?"

Lee Sea scurried toward the kitchen and pointed at a plate on the dining table. Next to it was some spaghetti with a "Review Event" sticker. Being noodles, it was probably already overcooked...

"Why didn't you eat that?"

"Just... full."

"Did you leave it 'cause it's my favorite?"

"Didn't even think that."

I poured all my delight into my response to her curt reply.

"Pizza's fine for tomorrow, but eat the spaghetti before bed. Scrape off the cheese and it'll still taste good."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"...Do whatever."

As she brushed past me toward her room, Lee Sea suddenly murmured softly.

"From now on, date someone decent. That sister earlier... her personality seemed awful."

"Awful personality?"

She paused at my question, then grumbled snarkily.

"She's ugly."

"Ugly? Her?"

No matter how much she disliked her, that was a bit much. But Lee Sea repeated firmly, if quietly.

"Average."

"No, putting looks aside, it's not all about—"

"You've only dated pretty girls so far."

"......"

This conversation wasn't going anywhere. She looked like me, which had felt weird, but objectively, Seo Yeon-hee's disguise this time was stunningly beautiful. Calling that average, and saying I'd only dated beauties...

Even if I insisted she was pretty, Lee Sea wouldn't budge. Arguing against a breakup we'd supposedly had was ridiculous anyway. It was like the answer was set—you just had to agree.

And that sparked a question. Didn't that mean she rated her own looks low too? They looked so alike.

Thankfully, she glossed over that, but calling her not pretty was shocking. Did this kid never look in her room's mirror?

"You said no dating for a while, so take your time and find someone good. I really hate people who slap faces in the street."

That was my doing, though... But I couldn't say it. Lee Sea added finally.

"When Se-ra unnie comes back to Korea... talk it over with her."

"Yeah."

With that, she slipped into her room. And a moment later.

Standing under the hot shower, I thought to myself. I'd have to pay more attention to this from now on.

During Birth of the Demon God, I hadn't had many choices. I'd had to zip around the world busily during brief moments of everyday downtime, and changing appearances within Seoul was mostly off-limits. No matter how carefully I hid, some unnoticed slip could expose me eventually.

At least eight out of ten times, if not more. I needed alibis ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠placing Lee Dojin—not Phantom—at specific spots away from home. Hotels and other lodging. Bars or clubs sealed off from the outside, where only Seo Yeon-hee and I could enter.

Only then could I operate ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as Phantom. Conversely, Seo Yeon-hee, using a fake identity, faced growing risks the longer she kept the same look, so she changed often.

I didn't think it was a good method. I'd endured public ridicule, contemptuous stares from those who knew me, disappointed Lee Sea, and hurt Han Se-ra.

But it was the most efficient. Things would change now, though.

Moving to Kill the Evil had shifted the hologram quests and my circumstances dramatically. Once Han Se-ra returned and we annulled the engagement as planned, I could find better ways. So the people who cared for me would hurt less than now.

I couldn't even offer Han Se-ra a sincere apology... but I'd do what I could.

Progress hadn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠budged even 1% since yesterday. Group practice issues. Jin Yu-ri visiting the house. That earlier incident. It had been eventful, yet no change.

It meant those parts were either described later or skipped entirely.

To me, it felt like cold comfort. A mechanical reassurance.

Even in times and places unrelated to Kill the Evil... Lee Sea was living her own life.

I wanted every day of my sister's life to be happy. I knew sometimes I negatively affected that, and I hoped to do better going forward.

Love, or deception. Maybe both.

All I could do was try my best to make the former outweigh the latter.

That seemed enough to settle my thoughts for tonight.

After showering, I noticed a single plate on the dining table. Like the apron, it was a pretty one from the cupboard we rarely used.

On it sat spaghetti with a tragic appearance. Not microwaved, but stir-fried in a pan—the cheese had melted into the sauce beyond recognition, and the noodles were bloated and swollen.

But just as a person's charm isn't only skin-deep, food isn't judged by looks alone. What mattered here was the heart.

I was grateful for Lee Sea's effort to revive the noodles, timing it for when I'd come out. Even using the pan and washing dishes afterward was touching.

The noodles were a bit overdone and snapped easily, but I could say with certainty: among everything I'd eaten since turning fifteen, this was the best.

Meanwhile, Lee Sea lay in bed with the lights off, fully aware her mood was fantastic right now. She knew why, too. Only one person could make her emotions swing like this.

'Weird.'

The thought hit her suddenly. Everything involving her brother was going smoothly. There'd been upsetting moments along the way, but overall, it was turning out well. Unusually so.

It hadn't been like this before this semester... Lately, things were really good. If gods existed in this world, maybe one was cheering her on.

'No plans to see anyone for a while, he said...'

Lee Dojin had stated it firmly. She couldn't fully trust it yet, but she had a gut feeling. It wasn't just empty words. Like always lately, he'd keep his promise.

Things would get even better than now.

Maybe it was selfish. No, definitely. If he didn't date, he'd go out less, spend more time at home. That's why she felt so giddy.

Thoughts she could never voice to Lee Dojin.

'Still... I like it.'

Just the idea of him not casually dating anyone pleased her. She'd feel a bit less guilty contacting Han Se-ra now.

'I wish he wouldn't break the engagement with Se-ra unnie...'

If picking one, Han Se-ra. Or like that awful woman said, she could keep living here without leaving.

'Or maybe marry Se-ra unnie and all three live together... Would that be too much trouble...?'

Lee Dojin and Han Se-ra might say no outwardly but inwardly mind it. Plenty possible.

"Huuu..."

A yawn slipped out unconsciously. Not that late yet.

Maybe because this house felt more comfortable than ever. Her body grew heavy, sleep pressing in.

She didn't fight her drooping eyes. Consciousness blurred, and just before drifting off, Lee Sea thought hazily.

'Come to think of it... I didn't ask.'

Her brother's ex from today. Personality and looks both meh—what charm had made him like her?

She'd been curious but forgot to ask. And...

A faint, dreamlike thought.

'Because she looked like me?'

She didn't get why that would be charming, but maybe. No way to know, and Lee Sea didn't judge it.

If so, fine. If not, fine. It didn't bother her.

Nor make her especially happy.

Because she was half-asleep. Or truly indifferent.

Or... unaware of it.

Soon, she fell completely into sleep. She'd forgotten by morning, but it was a very happy dream.

This was a grand castle. Its name: Eternal Palace.

A ancient fortress over a thousand years old, its overwhelming presence struck terror into any who stood before it.

Tens, hundreds of millions of slaves had poured their blood and sweat into building it. Many injured, many dead.

But the deaths of soul-bound slaves held no value, so the castle infused with their lives stood tall and beautiful.

And at this moment.

The sole, absolute ruler of the Eternal Palace sat upon his jade throne, gazing indifferently below.

All the demons prostrated in the vast hall trembled in fear and obedience. His name: Partus.

Thirteenth among the fourteen Demon Lords.

Yet having lived an eternity before invading this world, he had become the longest-surviving Demon King.